Cartersville teams, Excel Christian boys grab Friday night wins

January 23, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Cartersville girls and boys basketball teams swept visiting Allatoona on Friday night at The Storm Center, and the Excel Christian Academy boys defeated Arlington Christian.

CARTERSVILLE BOYS 76, ALLATOONA 46

Four Canes scored in double digits Friday night as the Cartersville boys blasted the visiting Allatoona Buccaneers, 76-46.

The Purple Hurricanes led 31-12 at the end of the first quarter, 54-20 at halftime, and 71-30 en route to a 30-point Region 7-AAAA win.

Nas Bennett scored 17 points with eight rebounds and two assists. Xavier Lowe also had 17 points with two assists. Kyron McClendon finished with 13 points, seven assists, and four boards. Wyatt Thomason contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Grayson Warmack totaled six rebounds while adding four points.

Carter Turnbow led Allatoona (12-7, 6-3) with 20 points.

Cartersville (16-3, 9-0) visits Cass on Tuesday.

CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 64, ALLATOONA 27

The Lady Canes outscored the visiting Lady Bucs 29-4 in the third quarter on Friday night and took control for a 64-27 Region 7-AAAA victory.

Zoe McCurry and Kaytlin Arnold led the Lady Canes with 24 and 23 points, respectively.

Allatoona (7-12, 4-5) got 14 points from Addie Gray.

The Cartersville girls (15-4, 8-1) play at Cass on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 82, ARLINGTON CHRISTIAN 72

The Excel Christian Academy boys avenged an earlier loss by defeating visiting Arlington Christian 82-72 on Friday night in Emerson.

Arlington Christian edged Excel Christian 60-55 back on January 16 in Fairburn.

Mason McKinney poured in 24 points to lead ECA. Karden Wingard scored 13 points. Damir McBride contributed 12, and Aston Chappell scored 10 points for Excel.

Chezi Essel led Arlington Christian (11-7) with 24 points. Tylon Adams followed with 22.

Excel Christian (17-5, 5-1 GAPPS Region 1-IA) hosts The Stonehaven School on Monday at 7:30 p.m. and visits The King’s Academy on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.

NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 55, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 40

The host Bruins built a 23-8 advantage in the first quarter on Friday and defeated the visiting Adairsville Tigers, 55-40.

Corbin Bates led Northwest Whitfield (11-7, 4-3) with 14 points. Abil Lyons produced 13 points, and Kyle Cumming had 10 for the Bruins.

Lucas Poarch scored a game-high 19 points for the Tigers. Dre Bautista added nine.

The Tigers (2-19, 1-8) travel to Ringgold on Tuesday.

NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 39, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 24

The host Lady Bruins improved to 12-7 on the season and 4-3 in Region 7-AAA with a 15-point win over Adairsville on Friday night.

Adairsville (8-13, 3-6) plays at Ringgold on Tuesday in a 6 p.m. start.